Sunday Thoughts..
I am on Steemit for more than a month now, with just 38 SP and 45 Rep, Consider me as one of the minnows. Or less. Seeing some posts about being a contributor in this community, made myself think of "How can I contribute?"
Most of the Whales here had done a lot to improve the community, such as 
How about me
How can I be a contributor in this platform? With a little niche, what can I share? I keep on searching up until now on how to be one.
My Goal
My goal when I join Steem it is to earn some extra bread at the comfort of my home after my regular work. Being a bread winner and eldest among my siblings, I said to my self that I need to find some extra funds to support my family, and most specially the medication of my father who is having a hemodialysis trice a week in his life. And at the same time to be a provider. This goal has been deleted in my mind as I enjoy chatting with different people in Steemit, reading #travel posts, #blogs, #story and more. Which is a nice thing that happened.
I even forgot how to use Facebook already. Lol. This platform became my outlet to relax instead of earning. And since Steemit is still a small community that I believe has still a lot to grow. Being one of the ”stake holder” as everyone here. I should think of how can be a contributor to grow this community.
Contributor
Last Friday night, as every people spend the night after the long-week regular job, I had a date with long-seen friends. Had a chat of different things that we are now doing I our life. My former Manager just got married 2 years ago and now had a 2-month old baby boy. While the other 2 whom are together before, has now different lives with their own partners, and the other one mentioned that he just purchased a new house and in need of extra fund and planning to go out of the country to have a better pay.
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And then, me, they asked me “what’s going on in my life”. Then I told them that I am currently holding a bitcoin for 3 months now. Which happened that all of their attention is now on me, Then I talked a lot about bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. I even told them that I do blogging through Steemit, which all them are not familiar with. So the discussion continues as if I am offering a networking business. Lol.
Then a friend that is planning to go out of the country approached me after our drinking sessions and ask about Steemit. He said he wants to learn, so the discussion continues. Being an artist, I encourage him that he got a potential in this platform, I even told him that I already forgot Facebook because of it. So the next morning, he send me a message asking how to join, so I sent him the details, and hopefully he could be one of us soon.
Realization
I realized that I can be of help to grow this community through inviting more people. To join us, earn and learn. Being in a customer service field, I could use of my words to invite more people to join in. express their talents and enjoy while earning. In this way, I cannot only help the community but the people around me.
In the Philippines, poverty is the main problem, with 34% poverty incidence last 2015 as per Philippine Statistic Authority. And I am sure, that most of them has a smartphone at least since it’s been a part of the basic necessity nowadays in order to get connected with our relatives. And that smartphone could be of use to be part of this community. But what preventing them is only the knowledge of the existence of Steemit. Or perhaps, they already know about it, but think of it as a scam.
As one of the “stake-holder”, I can spread the word that Steemit is real, that they can earn and learn by the comfort of their home.
If I will be able to do that, not to all though, but at least to the people who is closed to me, and through word of mouth, I will be able to help our country to at least lessen the poverty and at the same time, grow the community.
Minnows and Planktons
Source
Inviting more people outside Steemit is a bit of a challenge. But we can spread the word. Create a “word of mouth” and advertisement maybe on our know social network such Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. But not all will believe us, I know. With out 10 invites, we are fortunate enough to make one to believe. Not unless we have some proof to show such as our earnings as example. Which as minnow or a plankton, I don’t have enough. Yet.
Through spreading words, we have to prove. As simple way, let us start spreading the “word of mouth” inside Steemit. How?, through supporting #minnows. Minnow such as I am has a difficulty of being known and recognize. We find our niche but still not enough. Even those who have been doing their respective niche even before Steemit still not being recognized. Some of us minnows even left the community already because of disappointment. But fellow minnows, as I mention in one of my post.
We should invest time and effort.
Through recognizing minnows, by a single upvote or if not worthy enough, maybe we could send them a message and provide feedback. And tell them how can they improve in a certain niche. Through minnows, once we are being recognized and reach our goals, then the spread of the words will start and our community will grow as fast as it can.
Whales
We could not forget whales, they’ve been here ever since we ever knew about it. Some of them are the ones who build the community. They are the ones who had sleepless nights in order to build this platform even up until now. This may be their regular 9-5 job to continually build the community and improve it.
Whales are here to teach us too, search the #trending tags to see their mind growing lectures in different subjects. And if they have free time, and so you are, ask them through steem.chat, they will response as soon as they are free.
Without them, we couldn’t be here as well.
So let’s build the community together and at the same time, I hope I can help to our country to minimize poverty through Steemit.
Planktons and Minnows, together we can be one of the dolphins and whales as well.
Thank You!
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